School & Education

1. Eskola ne'e iha ne'ebé?

   Where is this school?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of a school.

   Grammar Note

   "eskola" is borrowed from Portuguese "escola" (school).

2. Hau hakarak aprende Tetun.

   I want to learn Tetum.

   Usage

   Used to express a desire to learn Tetum, the national language.

   Grammar Note

   "aprende" is from Portuguese "aprender" meaning "to learn".

3. Universidade Nasionál Timor Lorosa'e iha ne'ebé?

   Where is the National University of East Timor?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the location of UNTL, East Timor's national university.

   Grammar Note

   "Lorosa'e" means "east" in Tetum, literally "sunrise direction".

4. Hau bele hetan livru eskola nian iha ne'ebé?

   Where can I get the textbook?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to obtain the course textbook.

   Grammar Note

   Matadalan means "guide, guidebook", not "textbook" (as in matadalan ba turista, "tourist guide"). The word for "book" is livru. Possession follows the order "possessed + possessor + nian", as in folin bilhete nian ("the price of the ticket"). Hetan means "to get, obtain".

5. Kursu Tetun-Portugés hahú bainhira?

   When does the Tetum-Portuguese course start?

   Usage

   Used to ask about courses in Timor-Leste's two official languages.

   Grammar Note

   Timor-Leste has two official languages: Tetum and Portuguese.

6. Hau labele kompriende. Bele repete?

   I can't understand. Can you repeat?

   Usage

   Used in class when you don't understand something.

   Grammar Note

   The verb for "understand" is kompriende (as in "…ajuda ema Timor kompriende liafuan Ingles foun"); komprende drops the i and is a misspelling. Labele is bele ("can") negated with la; la bele is also written as two words, but labele also occurs.

7. Hau hakarak estuda iha grupu.

   I want to study in a group.

   Usage

   Used to express interest in group study sessions.

   Grammar Note

   "estuda" is studying ("estuda Portugés" = study Portuguese). "serbisu" means "to work / job", not "to study".

8. Ezame iha loron hira?

   On which day is the exam?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the date of an exam.

   Grammar Note

   The date is asked with "loron hira". "hirak" is the demonstrative "these specific", not a question word. School materials spell the noun "ezame".

9. Profesór, hau iha pergunta ida.

   Teacher, I have a question.

   Usage

   Used to address a teacher with a question in class.

   Grammar Note

   "profesór" is borrowed from Portuguese "professor".

10. Iha biblioteka iha kampus?

    Is there a library on campus?

    Usage

    Used to ask about library facilities on a university campus.

    Grammar Note

    "biblioteka" is borrowed from Portuguese "biblioteca" (library).

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